Histories

The second queen, whose name was Nitocris, was a wiser woman than the first. She left such monuments as I shall record; and moreover, seeing that the kingdom of Media was great and restless and Nineveh (deserted settlement), Ninawa, Iraq, Asia Ninus itself among other cities had fallen to it, she took such precautions as she could for her protection.

First she dealt with the river Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates, which flows through the middle of her city; this had been straight before; but by digging canals higher up she made the river so crooked that its course now passes one of the Assyrian villages three times; the village which is so approached by the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates is called Ardericca. And now those who travel from our sea to Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon must spend three days as they float down the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates coming three times to the same village.

Such was this work; and she built an embankment along either shore of the river, marvellous for its greatness and height.

Then a long way above Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon she dug the reservoir of a lake, a little way off from the river, always digging deep enough to find water, and making the circumference a distance of fifty two miles; what was dug out of this hole, she used to embank either edge of the river;

and when she had it all dug, she brought stones and made a quay all around the lake.

Her purpose in making the river wind and turning the hole into marsh was this: that the current might be slower because of the many windings that broke its force, and that the passages to Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon might be crooked, and that right after them should come also the long circuit of the lake.

All this work was done in that part of the country where the passes are and the shortest road from Media, so that the Medes might not mix with her people and learn of her affairs.